Prosecutors consult finance ministry in online pundit case

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Monday they have been working with
the finance ministry in the investigation of an influential on-line pundit
alleged to have spread false information about government economic policies.

Prosecutors apprehended an unemployed 30-year-old man last week whom they believe
authored over 100 online posts critical of the government's handling of the
economy. Identified by his surname Park, the suspect is more widely known by his
Internet alias "Minerva."
"Before the court issued the arrest warrant, we summoned and consulted with an
official from the finance ministry to review Park's work, which we view as
falsified information," an official at the Seoul Central District Court said.
Investigators claim Minerva spread false information late last month through
on-line postings claiming the government ordered financial institutions to stop
buying dollars in order to curb the local currency's depreciation.
Having been dubbed by supporters as an "online economic czar," Park gained a
substantial following after he predicted the fall of U.S. investment bank Lehman
Brothers Holdings Inc. in September. His sharp criticism of the government's
foreign exchange, real estate and other economic policies also garnered much
attention.
Park Chan-jong, the defense attorney, was expected to file a complaint with the
court seeking his client's release and questioning the legality of his physical
detention.
"We plan to discuss the matter with Park, which we believe he will approve," the
attorney said.
Minerva's supporters, including high-profile opposition lawmakers, claim the
nature of Park's information was not ultimately false, saying the Ministry of
Finance and Planning admitted to having requested financial institutions to
refrain from dollar-buying.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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